The Big Merino in Goulburn, NSW, is one of Australia’s most recognisable Big Things. Standing 15.2 metres high and 18 metres long, the giant merino ram has been a landmark along the Hume Highway since 1985.
The idea for the Big Merino came from brothers Attila and Louis Mokany, who wanted to attract travellers to Goulburn. The Big Merino was the first of several Big Things associated with the brothers, followed by the Big Prawn in Ballina and the Big Oyster in Taree.1
The Big Merino was modelled on a local merino ram named Rambo and quickly became a popular roadside attraction. More than 40 years later, it remains an important part of Goulburn’s identity and one of the best-known landmarks along the Hume Highway.2
For Rickard Engineering, the Big Merino also has a special connection to our history. Charles Rickard, founder of Rickard Engineering, was involved in the engineering of the Big Merino, as well as the Big Prawn in Ballina and the Big Oyster in Taree. These projects form part of Rickard Engineering’s longstanding connection to Australia’s Big Things.
Today, the Big Merino has been recognised as part of the Aussie Big Things 2 collection, featured on a commemorative $1 coin and stamp.
The collection celebrates some of Australia’s most iconic and unusual landmarks, recognising the place these structures hold in communities across the country. The Big Merino’s inclusion is a recognition of a structure that has become synonymous with Goulburn and regional New South Wales.
For Rickard Engineering, seeing the Big Merino recognised in this way is particularly meaningful. What began as an ambitious roadside attraction in the 1980s has become an enduring Australian landmark, continuing to attract visitors and remaining a familiar sight for travellers along the Hume Highway.
The commemorative coin also provides an opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact of these projects. More than four decades after the Big Merino was completed, the landmark continues to be celebrated as part of Australia’s Big Things story.
Rickard Engineering is proud of our connection to this history and to the engineering behind some of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks.
